Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.5.40
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesShare the Lord’s Glories for Everyone’s Welfare
“Please, therefore, describe the almighty Lord’s activities which you have learned by your vast knowledge of the Vedas, for that will satisfy the hankerings of great learned men and at the same time mitigate the miseries of the masses of common people who are always suffering from material pangs. Indeed, there is no other way to get out of such miseries.”
What the purport teaches
- Nārada urges Vyāsadeva to use his vast Vedic knowledge to describe the almighty Lord’s activities. This satisfies learned seekers and relieves the material miseries of ordinary people.
- Those who acknowledge the Lord’s authority take shelter of Him in distress, in need of money, in knowledge or in curiosity about God. Nārada advises sharing the Lord’s glories for the benefit of both those who acknowledge Him and those who do not.
- Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not meant for a particular class or sect. It is for every sincere soul who truly desires welfare and peace of mind.
Try this today
Share one teaching about the Lord from this verse with someone willing to listen, with their welfare in mind.
Ask yourself
How can I use what I learn about the Lord to benefit others, without limiting whom I consider worthy?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.